My Favorite Course: Davis Love III

Davis Love III learned the game of golf from his father, a professional golfer and instructor, starting at a young age. A successful collegiate player, he turned pro in 1985 and won his first PGA Tour event in 1987.

Love has 20 Tour wins in his almost 30-year career, including a first-place finish at the 1997 PGA Championship. He came in second at the 1995 and 1999 Masters and tied for second at the 1996 US Open. The seasoned veteran also took home THE PLAYERS Championship, widely considered an unofficial major, in 1992 and 2003. Highly ranked for much of his career, Love enjoys a lifetime Tour exemption.

CBS Local Sports sat down with Davis Love III to chat about his experiences on and off the golf course.

Love III: My favorite course in the United States, because it’s hard to separate the great old courses in Scotland and Ireland, is Seminole in South Florida. I have so many friends that are members there and it’s such a great classic course with Donald Ross as the designer and the ties to Ben Hogan. It’s a fun place to go and play. Even though it’s short and tight, it has great greens and is always a challenge.

CBS Local Sports: What is your favorite hole and why?

Love III: The love/hate with No. 17 at THE PLAYERS Championship — when you think about what hole jumps out at you or strikes fear into you and challenges you, I think that one may be my favorite. Just because of the pressure of the moment whether you’re just trying to make the cut or you’re trying to win the tournament, it’s one of the most challenging shots in golf.

CBS Local Sports: How did you first get interested in golf?

Love III: I grew up at the golf course and my dad was the pro. He played on the TOUR and played in big tournaments and he was my teacher. That’s what we did at my house when I was a little kid so luckily I fell in love with it.

CBS Local Sports: Who has had the biggest influence on your golf career and why?

Love III: That would be the same. My dad was my teacher and my coach, my playing partner and my best friend. We tried to beat my mom when we were little. She was a good player but my dad was the golf influence for my brother and me.

CBS Local Sports: What’s the biggest moment in your career to date and why?

Love III: I won THE PLAYERS a couple of times and we all hope to call that a major someday but winning the PGA Championship and the way I won it playing Winged Foot and then the rainbow at the end and everybody remembering my dad — that was probably the greatest golf moment I’ve ever had.